The Dangers of Road Rage in Washington

No matter how experienced you are behind the wheel, or how many traffic laws you’ve memorized, road rage and aggressive driving are very realistic possibilities on the road. Everybody is allowed to have bad days, after all, and terrible drivers on the road can sometimes push our frustrations over the edge. However, no matter how angry and stressed out we may be behind the wheel, there are ways to manage that negativity so that you minimize the risk of accidents and other potentially unwanted situations.

What is Road Rage and Aggressive Driving?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, road rage is defined as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

Aggressive driving is just as bad – in the state of Washington, it’s the act of committing 2 or more moving violations that have the high likelihood of injuring other persons or damaging property. It can also be a single intentional act that requires another driver to react defensively.

What are Symptoms of Aggressive Driving and Road Rage?

Road rage and aggressive driving are culminations of all the stress, frustration, and anger that one may encounter throughout the course of a day. According to the Washington State Patrol, symptoms include:

• Having thoughts of harm or violence toward others on the road.
• Verbally expressing displeasure at other drivers.
• Not obeying traffic safety rules for whatever reason.
• Engaging in unsafe driving practices, such as speeding, tailgating, weaving, and using the horn excessively.

If you’ve had a bad day, you may be guilty of a few of these symptoms – and if you get caught, you may end up with fines, tickets, license suspensions, and a mandatory order to take a state-approved defensive driving course to help deal with your driving issues.

How Do I Prevent Aggressive Driving and Road Rage Incidents?

Avoiding the act of road rage and/or aggressive driving can be difficult, especially if your mind is in a negative place, but there are ways to minimize stress, dissuade anger, and improve your mood when you’re behind the wheel.

• Create a calming environment inside the vehicle. Make sure you’re comfortable in your car, turn on your heater or A/C if necessary, and listen to your favorite soothing music.
• Try to be polite at all times, even if other drivers are not. Avoid conflict, especially if another driver challenges you. The “eye for an eye” mentality is best left off of the road.
• Keep safe distances from vehicles to the front and side of you.
• Maintain safe driving practices as you normally would on the road. Signal when changing lanes, and make sure to follow the speed limit.
• Empathize with any other potentially erratic drivers on the road. They may be driving aggressively because of an emergency or other misfortunes.

It’s important to remember that everybody gets angry – it’s not okay to use that as an excuse to justify your actions afterward. Controlling your anger and any potentially feelings of ill-will will help you defuse any potentially heated situations that might come your way.